Obviously, Mick Jagger wasn’t singing about himself when he originally sang that lyric 50 years ago, and he certainly isn’t singing it now.

Judging by The Rolling Stones’ triumphant concert at Raleigh, North Carolina’s Carter-Finley Stadium on July 1, it’s anything but a drag to be an old Stone!

From the first blasts of Keith Richards’ guitar at the opening of “Jumping Jack Flash” to the final firework that exploded at the end of “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”, the show was pure energy for 2 hours in a muggy, North Carolina summer heat that would’ve slowed down almost anyone except for The Rolling Stones.

“It’s Only Rock And Roll” and “Let’s Spend The Night Together” followed close behind and didn’t let up for an instant. Pianist Chuck Leavell’s cascading runs were a luxury as the band tore through a catalog of classics that felt revived and refreshed.

Jagger’s stamina was something to behold. The 71-year old singer, who is truly the template for all rock and roll front men, ran from one wing of the massive stage to the other, and he dominated the walkway that went out to the middle of the floor area. He was constantly in movement. It was hard to look away as he went spastic during every chorus of “Out Of Control” before reining it in to blast tasty blues harmonica before each verse.

Even more impressive was the fact that his voice seemed stronger than it has on past tours. It wasn’t just Mick, though! The entire band was crisp and locked in tight. In fact, 2015’s Zip Code Tour may be the best that The Rolling Stones have ever sounded as live players.

A menacing and sprawling version of “Midnight Rambler” stretched for over 12 minutes on this night as they explored and wrung out every note, coaxed the song to sleep, then jarred it awake again.

While Mick was all over the place at all times all night, Keith Richards oozed personal warmth while still somehow being the coolest guy in a venue of 40,000 or so people. Keith bowed and slashed at the air playing his role of musical alchemist to the hilt.

Richards was full of laughter and that positivity was contagious among the band and the crowd. Everyone on stage were clearly enjoying each other.

In the past, there’s been a distance between Jagger and Richards that was palpable, even onstage. On this night, there was none of that. The Glimmer Twins were brothers with a lot of love between them and it was apparent.

Even notoriously aloof drummer Charlie Watts kept breaking into beaming smiles, sometimes at completely random times. Of course, he did it all while keeping the pulse of a band that could not possibly swing like they do without him.

Ronnie Wood’s playing was especially potent on this night. He’s always been one of the most underrated guitarists in rock, but hearing him cut loose on a very rare version of Exile On Main Street’s gospel rave up “Shine A Light” was truly glorious.

Wood made goofy faces, jumped up and down in place, and had enough brightly colored mod wardrobe changes to make Katy Perry blush.

Of course, even better was witnessing Ronnie and Keith’s “ancient art of weaving” in action. It really does register as a kind of telepathy. Whether the two guitarists were hundreds of feet away on the massive stage or nose to nose, everything they did just felt right, and since The Stones is all about feel, nothing else mattered.

The audience was totally enthralled in that feeling as the staging brought the show to everyone through video screens where one could choose to watch every facial tic and expression or zoom out to the massive overall experience.

Everything felt like it was working as part of the show, including nature. During the moody and beautiful “Moonlight Mile”, the overcast over the stadium briefly gave way to a full moon shining through the clouds.

Yes, at this show, the greatest lighting tech in the world even shined a light!

And the set list was about as potent as one could get!

Whether it was an extended “Miss You” where bassist Daryl Jones took a funky solo (as Richards’ cheered him on) or a truly hair-raising version of “Gimme Shelter” featuring vocalist Lisa Fischer, the band wasn’t shy about taking chances and on this night, those chances paid off every time.

After that, The Stones slammed the audience with a 3-song run that included “Start Me Up”, a fiery “Sympathy For The Devil”, and the audience participatory “Brown Sugar”, which ended the main set.

For the encore, the Duke University Vesper Choir preceded the band onto the stage and led into a performance of “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” that had every voice singing along.

The night ended with The Stones somehow summoning even more energy for “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”. On other tours, the band has appeared as if they were going through the motions on an obligatory song that they felt compelled to do. Not tonight. That 50-year old song had the energy of a sugar-overloaded child.

As the band took their final bows, fireworks exploded over the stage, the crowd roared, and the world’s greatest rock and roll band put one more notch in their collective belt. Veterans of past shows and new generations of fans who were having their virgin experience with The Stones on this night kept cheering until security personnel began herding them out.

No doubt, the buzz of The Stones’ experience kept right on running through the veins of those attendees long after the band had moved on to another city.

After all, this wasn’t just another show. This was now.

And now, it’s history.

Ladies and gentlemen, The Rolling Stones!

Rolling Stones Set List
July 1, 2015
Raleigh, North Carolina

Jumping Jack Flash
It’s Only Rock And Roll
Let’s Spend The Night Together
Tumbling Dice
Out Of Control
Bitch
Moonlight Mile
Shine A Light
Honky Tonk Women
Before They Make Me Run
Happy
Midnight Rambler
Miss You
Gimme Shelter
Start Me Up
Sympathy For The Devil
Brown Sugar

Encore
18. You Can’t Always Get What You want (With The Duke University Vesper Choice)
19. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction